Sunday Inspirations-Keep Going

"What counts more than luck is determination and perseverance.


If the talent is there, it will come through. Don’t be too impatient.

Stick at it. That’s my advice." – Fred Astaire
 
Thanks Fred, we need that advice. Especially because you notice he says it counts more than luck-but luck is definitely part of the equation. I hear a lot of subbing authors wail that they've been rejected so many times they begin to lose confidence in their abilities. They forget they have talent. But we must persevere to catch that moment when the moon is just right and the agent reading your query has had a fabulous week and the market is looking for exactly what you just wrote.

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Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. Thomas Edison
 
Don't be that person. Don't give up because there are people out there that want your story. They are somewhere. Keep going. Writing can be so lonely sometimes, it's crucial to have other writers in your support group to keep you from burning manuscripts and throwing computers out of the window.
 
I know this is all easier said than done, sometimes. I think a key turning point for me was when I made the conscious decision to write every day, to improve my writing, and to find an agent that loves my work. The rest is another journey. I still have to remind myself of that decision sometimes. I wrote a promise to myself. I didn't hang it for me to see daily or for everyone else in the world to see (my desk is in the living room), I put it in a drawer and when I'm starting to feel defeated, that is one of the things I reach for. It's a tough, serious reminder that I'm in this for the long haul.
 
What do you do to keep yourself inspired; not story inspired, but keep going inspired?
 

Tough Love and Rejection

One of the most common subjects amongst writers and agents is dealing with rejection. Everyone hates rejection, even the person doing the rejecting, I'm sure.

Princess Rhiannon is dealing with a lot of rejection at school. Several girls apparently think she is 'weird' because she doesn't like to do her hair fancy, she wears jeans and tee shirts (she plays hard on the playground!), and apparently, she isn't grown up enough for these little snotty brats. Oh-I mean, little girls. *ahem* We had a conversation about this and I was so proud of her when she told me, "It doesn't matter. I hang out with the guys, they don't care how I look, they care who I am." WOW-great observation for a nine year old. I would have been a blubbering mess to my mother at that age.

She reminded me that we have been learning how to handle rejection since an early age. Most of us did not have parents that allowed us every thing our heart desired-especially since desires change from hour to hour with kids. :)

Then I got to wondering...have writers forgotten that we have experienced rejection all our lives? Does the writing community need a good wake up call? I think it's time for writers to quit moaning online about how this awful agent sent him/her a **GASP** form rejection. Before anyone screams at me, "How callous! How DARE you?! I knew it, Kristi has no heart!" let me clarify. Everyone gets disappointed about rejections-form or otherwise. It's no problem to let others know that you are feeling a little disappointed. I think it's okay to frown and hang our heads for a little while, too. I agree we should reach out to our friends at this time to help us with the disappointment. The problem I see is too many writers scream that this rejection shattered their dreams and they give up. OR the writers that fall to the floor and cry, while insinuating that the publishing industry is clueless and their manuscript is the best thing to hit the market. *YAWN*

If anyone has ever seen even one episode of So You Think You Can Dance, American Idol, Project Runway or any other competition-based reality show, you've seen some people get ripped apart. And let me tell you-the judges are not nice enough to hand them a form rejection!! I've heard things like, "Do you really think that was good?" "My dog sounds better when he howls than when you sing." "That dress is upscale witchy halloween costume." "Totally unwearable." And really-even worse that I just can't dredge from my memory because every time I see one of those singers/dancers/fashion designers/etc.. get in front of a panel of angry faces (faces they usually idolize) and have their dream shot down to the dust on national television-I feel for those people. Those people are getting REJECTED.

Most of these people nod quietly and take their walk of shame off the stage. Some cry. Some roll their eyes. Everyone deals with rejection differently, but it's how we deal with it that makes a difference. While one competitor says, "It makes me hungry to do better next time." Another lays on the stage, literally bawling. Even the judge had to tell this contestant, "You aren't helping yourself at all, handling yourself like this right now." Do you think that one will come back next year? Or the one that took it as a challenge to get better? I know who my vote goes to.

Could you imagine getting rejection letters that sound like Simon Cowell just judged your writing? Be thankful for that form letter! Remember there are more than one reason to get rejected in the publishing industry. Maybe your writing is brilliant, but it's just not the right time. Maybe you only have a few things to tweak and the next query lands a deal. Perhaps you queried the wrong person at the wrong time or the right person at the wrong time. We don't know for sure and yes, that makes it more difficult at times to accept the rejection.

So, when the next rejection letter comes.....get hungry! Hungry to do it better next time. Hungry to send out more, write more, learn more. Your dream isn't strong enough if you let rejections shatter it to pieces without ever putting them back together. Cry yourself a couple of tears-it hurts, and I acknowledge that. But don't give up-GROW from it.